A Century of Wolf HuntsThe American frontier of northeastern Illinois posed many challenges for settlers leaving behind established communities in the eastern United States and Europe. Here they faced the task of forging a new life in a land they perceived as "wilderness." One of...

Rags, Hero Dog of the First DivisionOn July 14, 1918, a homeless terrier on the streets of Paris, France was rescued by two American soldiers of the First Infantry Division. Named Rags, the dog became a war hero and mascot, and spent two years living at Fort Sheridan. First Division Rags at F...

1861 Map of Lake County, IllinoisMap of Lake County, Illinois 1861. The Lake County, Illinois map of 1861 wasthe county's second official map. An earlier map was commissioned by the County in 1841, but no copies are known to exist. Lithographers Leopold Gast and Brother of St. Louis, Mi...

George Shatswell, 15th Illinois InfantryCaught up in patriotic fervor to preserve the Union, George P. Shatswell enlisted with the 15th Illinois Infantry in May 1861. When Shatswell left Waukegan, he was a strong young farmer, but on his return he could barely do a day's work. George P. Shatswell...

The Bain WagonFor museums, an object's story is essential to preserving and telling a community's history. And sometimes an object has more than one story to tell. Take for instance, "The Bain" wagon donated to the museum in 2011. The wagon's story encompasses that of an...

James T. Bacon (1830 - 1895)In the early winter of 1834, citizens of the village Hannibal, New York were stirring about the prospect of moving west. James Bacon, who was just a toddler, did not understand the great fuss of the "western enthusiasts" who included his uncle Hudson Bacon....

One-Room School Teacher, Fanny HinkstonA picture is worth a thousand words. In the case of Frances "Fanny" Hinkston, her photo was my starting point for uncovering a forgotten life. Fanny Hinkston Bacon (1831 - 1858) Photo circa 1855. Collections of Lake County Discovery Museum It was difficult...

Mother Rudd's Temperance TavernThe historic Mother Rudd House stands on the corner of Old Grand Avenue and Kilbourne Road in Gurnee. The building is a testament to Lake County's settlement period and the county's role in the national Temperance Movement. Mother Rudd House, Gurnee, Illino...

Historic Minto Home, 1857 - 2016Nearly everyday I drive past the Minto homestead on Deep Lake Road in Antioch Township. I have spent years researching and acquainting myself with this historic family of Scottish immigrants through the letters, diaries and objects preserved by the Lake Cou...